Did Nissan Just Build a Diesel-Powered Raptor?

Yes, your eyes are not deceiving you. This is a story about a Nissan. Long have we wondered what it would be like if Ford would take it’s off-road special, the Raptor, and give it a dose of diesel power. Diesel has some advantages over gasoline performance, and the extra torque would make the Raptor something special. Well, this concept that Nissan is showing off at the 2016 North American International Auto Show might just be that.

Called the Warrior, the truck is based off the brand’s new Titan XD pickup truck. It’s powered by a 5.0L Cummins-sourced V8 diesel engine making 555 lb-ft of torque. The XD chassis is heavier-duty than a standard half-ton truck, but not designed to be a full 3/4 ton offering. Think of it as a “heavy half-ton.”

The concept has everything you’d think of to make a truck have off-roading credentials, including different shocks and tires, tons of auxiliary lighting, and so forth. It’s an imposing looking truck, and we wouldn’t be lying if it didn’t look a bit like the Raptor.

Does Ford need to worry? No, not really. The Raptor is already slated to be in production soon and the Warrior is just a concept. As of late, Nissan hasn’t really made their concepts reality, so I’m not holding my breath for this one, either.